Improved mode of supporting the tongues of coaches



z. B. WAKEMAN. Tongue-Support.

Patented Mar, 10;. 1857.

. UNITE STATES PATENT FFICE ZALMON B. \VAKEM AN, OF BELOIT, VISCONSIN.

IMPROVED MODE OF SUPPORTING THE TONGUES OF COACHES.

Specification i'orn1in; pnrtfof Letters Patent N0 16.83 E3. (lillCl l\l;ucll 10, 18;7.

Be ib known thab I, ZALMON B. WAKEMAN, of Beloit, in the county of Rock and State of W'isconsin, have invented anew and improved mode of guiding the tongues of wagons ancl other carriages by 1neans of 2L spring 01 Springs, which ab the Same tin1e holds the tongue any requirecl height i'10n1 the neeks of horses; and the following is a full und correct Cleseription thereof, rel'erence being had to the accompanying drawings and letters 0f refer ence marked thereon, the same letters refer ring to likeparts in all the figures.

'lhe nature of n1y invention consists in an arrangexnent and combinati'on of parts for the purpose of guiding and holding the tongue 0f a wagen orany 0the1 carriage by meansofone 01 1nore springs applied to the tongue in such n way as '00 guicle and give it clireetion forward, and at the Same time overcomes its resistance siclewise, preventing the tongue striking the horses when one 01 more wheels strike any obstacle, also supporting und holding the tongue ab the szune tixne any required heighb from the ground by means 0f the nut 01 nuts, screw er screws, aud springs 01 springs, relieving the horses from the weight of the Same and pre venting their neeks galling.

In order to apply my invention,a wagon or any other carriage may loe constructed in the usual 1nanner, With a. loose tongue securecl t0 the honnds by a holt, (01 pin,) as referred to in the aeconapanying clrawings.

A 10d 01 rods, F, intendecl to supporta spi- 1211 spring er springs, E, has its forward end abtached loosely 130 the. tongue A ab 2m proper distanee fx0m the holt K, in such a manner as to leave the tongue A free to move up und clown, but at the Same time prevenb the 1 0d er rocls E frbm being moved endwise withont moving the tongue A. Thismay be effected by making the end ofithe 10d 01 rods Fsmaller where it passes through the eyebolt G 01 plate G, leaving a shoulder to press againsi: it, orin any other well-known way. 'lhe rod or rods F have a serew-threacl cut upon bheir forward ends, with one 01 more nuts, H, 011 them, t0 bear against the end of the spiral spring or springs E E, und by their position 011 the rod or rods F t0 increase 01 diminish the force with whieh the spring 01 springs E shall press a-gainst the tongue A when the latter is held in zmy certain osition. 'Ihe other end of the 10d 01 rocls F pnsses loosel y through a holedn the b1ace 0r bmees I, which is intended to hold the 10d or rods F in its proper place, and 110 take the pressure 0f the spring 01' springe E E. The b1aee or brnces I 1nay be secured t0 the reach (01 pcreh) C, es shownin Figures 1 and 2. In order t0 allow the tongue A (L perfeetly free 1notion in every direction, it is necessary bhab the hole in the brace 01 braees I through whieh the rod passes sl1oulcl be mach larger than the rocl er rods F. Therefore t-o prevent the end of the spi1al spring or springs E from crowding into the hole with the 10d or rods F, a washer, J, with a hole but litble larger Ehen the r0d F, is placed between the end of the spring 01 springs E und the lomee 01 braees I. A spiral spring er springs, E, is placed upon the rod 01 rods F, one end of which presses against the brace or braces I, and the other end againsb the nnfi 01 nuts Hupon the rocl 01' rods F, by which its pressnre is connnuniezmted to the tongne A. The spring o1 springs E a1e made of asuitahle stifiness corresponding with the weight of the tongue A, and by means 0f the nut 01' nnts II and the screw 01 screws upon the 10d 01 rods F may loe 1nade t0 supporb the whole weight of the tongue A any desired height und at the same time pre vent it fron1 bearing upon the neeks ot the horses. This in the most eff'eetnial nmnner secures all advantages abtending either a loose 01 stift' tongue, while ils avoids the peculiar disadvantages belonging t0 euch of the1n, for it; will be observed that; the weight of a loose tongue 0f a wagen (01 other carriage) dragg-ing constautly 011 the necks of horses attaehed to the sonne has a tenclency (whieh is increased by rough roads) t0 gall then1 and make their neeks sore, so thut in spite of the greatest eure they are frequently clisaloled f01 a ohne, if not permanent=ly injured, while a stifftongue is found 130 frei: and injure horses still n1ore than a loose one; but, on the other band, my invention enables the horses to move along 2b rough road as easily (so f2Ll es the guiding 0f the wagen is eoncerned or the thrashing or jerking 0f the tongue) zus they would on a smooth 10ad, f01 by clispensing Wibh the neck-yoke, and using pole-straps instead, the horses move alorig as though obere were no tongue to the Wagon.

In the drawings, Fig. l is a perspective view of the forwarcl axle, B, of a wagen, With a part: of its rigging, and wibh the spring E attaehed beneath the tongue A, intending 130 show two spiral springs; but as he other cpuld not be shown without showing it on me t0p 0f ehe tongue ib is omitted.

Fig. 2 Shows the fore part 0f a wagon, bottom side up, with a par1: 0f the tongue, axle, hounds, mach, (or perch and wheels detached, I I showing the braces which hold up the tongue A by means 0f the spira1 spring 01 springs E E, as attaohed t0 t-he mach (or perch) O; Athe tongue, (01 pole;) B, the fo rward ax1e; G, parb 0f the mach (01 perch;) D D, hounds; E E, spira1 springs holding ehe W6ight 0f the tongue A; G, eyebolt (or p1abe) t0 receive the forward ends of the rods F F, which press against it; H H, nuts 0n the rods F F for increasing or diminishing the pressure 0f Ehe springs E E; I I, braces against whic h the springs E E press; J J, washers between the euds 0f the springs E E and the braces I I; K, holt (01 pin) through tongue A and the hounds D D.

Fig. 3 shows a side view 0f one spring and 011e brace applied single, and Ehe letters refer- 1ing to same arts as Figs. 2 and l.

Another very important object is attained by the use 0f the spira1 spring 0r springs E in connection with the brace 0r braces I, attached t0 the reacl1 G, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, for besides supporting the weight 0f the tongue it serves t0 guide and steady it, Reeping 1'13 in a sbraighc line wit-h 13he reach, thus enabling the Wagon 0r other carriage so guide itse1f straight forward in a very superior manner. This affords a great relief t0 the horses, as it saves them from ehe thrashing 0r jerking 0f ehe tongue, and a1lows them t0 travel elose together 01 wide apart wihout turning the wagen from its true course, and also relieving their necks 0f the weight; of ehe neck -yoke and tongue. This effeeb of guiding the wagon 01 other carriage by steadying the tongue may be increas'ed by tw0 spira1 springs plaeed side by side, instead of the 0n0 spring Eas represented in Figs. 1 and 2. In t-his case the forward ends 0f the rods (With springs attached) are attached 150 the same part 0f the tongu6, while their back ends are spread from .eight o0 twelve inches apart, 0r any desired distance, being supported by the braces I I, which must be fastened so the mach (or perch) with an angle 130 receive the rods holding the springs, and it may become neeessary 110 fasten a girder across the lower ends 0f ohe braces,( fr very heavy tongues,)if made as represented in Ehe drawings, I I. I1: is obvious that the more the back ends of these springs are spread the more they tend to steady the tongue and guide it straighu forward. By this arrangement; the sei; of axle is preserved in its true osition. 'Ihe pressure being against the mach he1ps maintain it; in 1'ts true position by susfaining the weight 0f the tongue.

\Vhat I desire t0 secure by Letters Patent The use 0f the braee 0r braces, 0'r their equivalent, attached 130 ehe reach (0r pe'rch) 0f a Wagon 01 other carriage, in combinauion with a spiral spring 0r spiral springs applied t0 Ehe tongue of a Wagon o1 obher carriage, and pressing against the reach for thepurpose 0f giving direction and sbeadiness 110 the tongue by checking its motion sidewise, keeping 113 in a sbraight line wih the reach (01 perch) while 111 supports it and also preserves the set of the axle in its true position, as set forth in this speeification. Bub I do nob claim apatenb f0r 1aising 01 sustaining nhe tongue in itself, as

this has been d0ne before in vari0us ways; buh

what; I claim is the arrangement and cornbination of parts, as illustrated in the drawings and Set forbh in ohis specification, for the purpose 0f giving direcnion and steadiness to the tongue while ib supports it. N01 do I claim said parts or any other arrangement orcombination 0f parts n0t used 01 described in this specification.

ZA'LIWION B. WVAKEMAN.

In presenee 0f MAT. H. CARIEN'IER, CARA CARPEN'IER. 

